The Game

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Allnutt and Ian Hawkey - with Charlotte Duncker.Tottenham are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League as group winners after their comeback in Marseille - but how far can they go? (00:00)Liverpool finished second in their group - but they did beat the in-form Napoli. Is Darwin Nunez starting to find his feet? (11:05)Chelsea won their group too, but their final group game was overshadowed by an injury to Ben Chillwell. Despite that, how far can they go?(19:01)Manchester City came from behind in their final group game against Sevilla. Charlotte Duncker was there for The Times and joins us to discuss Rico Lewis, who made history in the game (31:50)Rangers became the worst Champions League side ever -but Celtic weren’t much better. Can the Old Firm realistically ever compete in the Champions League? (36:36)There’s only one Spanish side through to the Champions League knockout stage. Why are clubs other than Real Madrid struggling at the moment? (42:41)Burnley came from behind against Rotherham to extend their lead at the top of the Championship. Just how impressive is Vincent Company and the job he’s doing at the club? (48:56)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd, with Tom Roddy.Brighton gave Graham Potter a hostile welcome on his return with Chelsea. Was his in-game management affected by the boos? (00:00)Leeds got the better of Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp’s side continued to struggle. How do they turn the corner? (19:31)Unlike Liverpool, Arsenal didn’t fall foul of Nottingham Forest. In fact, they embarrassed them - but what could derail the Gunners’ charge towards an unexpected title fight? (31:32)Alyson tells us all about her enlightening conversation with Fulham’s Bobby Decordova-Reid and his Labour MP sister, Marsha (40:11)Hugh has a big statement to make about Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne - but will everyone else agree? (45:06)Marcus Rashford continues to impress - but can he break into the England World Cup squad? (51:39)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Ian Hawkey.Antonio Conte was sent off as Spurs had a winner ruled out against Sporting on Wednesday night - but was it the right decision? (00:00)Liverpool cruised into the knockout stages with a 3-0 win at Ajax - are we starting to see them find their form again? (10:24)Chelsea are already looking like a Graham Potter side, but how far can they go in the tournament? (16:22)Three of the original Super League clubs are already out of the Champions League. Ian Hawkey joins us from Barcelona to discuss the fate of Xavi’s side as well as Juventus and Atletico Madrid (30:09)Unai Emery is back to have another crack at the Premier League. Why is he a good fit for Aston Villa? (40:17)It’s the end of the month, so we pick our alternative players of the month for October (49:08)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Aston Villa looked like a different team this past weekend as they put 4 past Brentford. Were the players not backing Steven Gerrard? (00:00)Leicester also scored four goals, thrashing Wolves without reply. Is the pressure off Brendan Rodgers now? (18:08)Wolves are still looking for a new manager - are they right to keep Steve Davis in place until the near year? (21:35)Leeds are sliding further into the bottom three. Does Jesse Marsch have much time to turn things around? (25:38)Fulham are seventh in the Premier League - but how!? (33:14)Steve Cooper was awarded a new contract when Forest were on a huge winless run - they’ve now beaten Liverpool, so is this the start of the turnaround? (36:38)Everton backed Frank Lampard and that looks to have paid off too. What can we expect from Frank Lampard’s side next? (43:18)Newcastle are fourth after a 2-1 win at Tottenham. Eddie Howe is happy, Antonio Conte isn’t - but what did we learn from the game? (51:02)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson and Martyn Ziegler.Manchester United looked vastly improved in their 2-0 win over Spurs - is Erik ten Hag’s vision for the club starting to show? (00:00)Ronaldo marched off down the tunnel before the final whistle - but who is to blame for his situation at the club? (09:18)Chelsea are Spurs haven’t had the ‘wow’ factor recently - but why? (12:42)Southampton have finally got a win, much to the delight of their manager Ralph Hasenhüttl. Where do they go from here and is he the right man to lead them forward? (24:42)Is Crystal Palace’s south London identity the secret to them consistently punching above their weight? (34:17)West Ham missed another penalty, this time against Liverpool. Why can’t they find the back of the net? (45:30)Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss the reemergence of the European Super League and how it differs from the 2021 proposition (55:56)With Gareth Southgate set to name a provisional 55 man England squad for the World Cup - we attempt to choose 5 players who have an outside chance of being included (58:20)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Molly Hudson and Tony Cascarino.Liverpool beat Manchester City 1-0, but at what cost for their next few matches? (00:00)David Moyes wasn't happy with some of the decisions in their draw against Southampton. Does he have a point? (20:35)Arsenal are still top after another win, this time over Leeds United. Are we getting used to them being a title contender? (24:12)Ivan Toney once again looked impressive for Brentford. He’s got to be on the plane to Qatar, surely? (37:14)Bournemouth continue their unbeaten run since Scott Parker was sacked. One player in particular has caught our eye (48:53)There were plenty of red cards over the weekend - including in the women’s game, as Molly Hudson explains (59:59)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke - with Ian Hawkey and Owen Slot.Barcelona are on the brink of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the second year running. Ian Hawkey was at the game last night and tells us just how problematic this is for the club (00:00)Rangers were embarrassed 7-1 at home to Liverpool in the Champions League. What does that result mean for both teams? (17:44)Following their 7-1 win over Rangers, Liverpool take on Manchester City at the weekend. Are they back in with a chance of a result? (21:01)Is Ralph Hasenhüttl most likely to be the next Premier League manager to be fired? (29:22)Kylian Mbappé is said to be desperate to leave PSG once again. The Times’ Owen Slot was in Paris earlier in the week and joins us to discuss why the Frenchman is unhappy (37:58)After a long campaign, the first black player to be selected for England - Jack Leslie - has been awarded a posthumous honorary cap by the Football Association. But why was he not recognised for so long? (50:38)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino - with Martyn Ziegler and Molly Hudson.Arsenal continue to impress - this time with a win over Liverpool. How have both clubs suddenly started moving in different directions? (00:00)Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner as Manchester United beat Everton - but what’s the latest with their relationship? (17:47)Bournemouth won again too - surely Gary O'Neil’s case for taking over full time is getting stronger by the week? (30:48)Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss Barcelona President Joan Laporta’s latest comments on the European Super League (33:41)Iker Casillas was ‘hacked’ on Sunday, with a tweet supposedly coming out posted on his account. Molly Hudson joins us to discuss the potential damage this could have caused in terms of footballers being open about their sexualities (50:42) Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Jonathan Northcroft, Ian Hawkey and Molly Hudson.Chelsea made short work of the Italian champions, last night. What does their win over AC Milan tell us about where they’re going under Graham Potter? (00:00)Liverpool and Manchester City both won too. What did we learn from their latest games in the Champions League? (5:22)Spurs drew in Frankfurt - what are they lacking and will Antonio Conte be forced to spend more money in January? (17:06) Napoli are on fire in both Serie A and in Europe - are they the real deal or will their season fall away as it has done in the past? (23:55)Julen Lopetegui looks set to take over as Wolves manager - but what went wrong for him at Sevilla? (29:10)England’s women play friendlies against the USA and Czech Republic in the next week. Molly Hudson joins us to discuss the games and the players who miss out (34:10)Leicester City got the better of Nottingham Forest in the East Midlands derby. Is this the start of their turnaround and what’s next for Steve Cooper’s side? (43:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke, Charlotte Duncker and Tom Roddy.There were nine goals at the Etihad, but twice as many of those goals went City’s way. What did we learn from the Manchester derby? (00:00)Arsenal also got one over their local rivals - are there some big questions for Antonio Conte following the 3-1 defeat? (13:00)Wolves are on the lookout for a new manager after Bruno Lage departed on Sunday. Charlotte Duncker joins us with the latest (26:55)After Liverpool drew 3-3 with Brighton at the weekend, Hugh wants to know - is this the end of this era of success at the club? (37:16)Brighton were impressive and with Leandro Trossard scoring a hattrick, the conversation turned to the most underrated players in the Premier League (47:25)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Michael Grant.The Nations League games are over - England haven’t won for 6 matches, they’ve been relegated too - but did we see positive signs against Germany (00:00)Scotland have had a much better Nations League campaign with promotion to the top group. Michael Grant was at their most recent matches and joins to discuss the positive trajectory in Scottish football (17:51)The Premier League returns this weekend with the North London derby at the Emirates - but is it the biggest meeting between the two sides in a long time? (28:22)Manchester United visit Manchester City for another derby match at the weekend. If United win - does it mean the ‘new’ United are here? (38:00)We finish with our Alternative Player of the Month - listen an cast your vote in The Times app (47:48)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Tom Clarke and Molly Hudson.England have been relegated from the top Nations League group - but is that the least of their worries going into the World Cup? (00:00)Wales have also dropped down a level, but Rob Page has his eyes on the World Cup. What kind of shape will Gareth Bale be in for the finals, though? (27:35)Arsenal set a new WSL attendance record at the weekend. Molly Hudson joins us to discuss what we learned from the last round of games (33:55)This section is called ‘Ruddy Angry’ and you’ll have to listen to find out why Alyson has lost her cool with Deadpool (43:10)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Jonathan Northcroft and Martyn Ziegler.England have two more games before the World Cup begins - but has Gareth Southgate got too many problems on his hands? (00:00)Ivan Toney is in the squad for this weekend’s Nations League matches - what chance does he have of becoming Harry Kane’s number two? (16:39)Is the game up for Trent Alexander-Arnold as an England player? (21:25)Harry Kane and other captains will wear ‘One Love’ armbands during these games and at the World Cup - but does it actually mean anything? (25:54)What will happen now Liz Truss has put the plan for an independent football regulator on hold? (45:14)A chat with former Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini ends up creating the most surreal games Hugh Woozencroft has ever come up with (52:07)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Arsenal continue to surprise many and will be league leaders going into October - how did they turn things around? (00:00)West Ham are having a disastrous season so far, but what can they do to turn things around - and is David Moyes the man to do it? (15:57)Spurs are third in the Premier League, only a point off the lead - but are they any good? (33:37)Leicester City are bottom going into the international break - but will they make a change in the dugout before their next game? (41:45)Fulham are impressing so far, but Nottingham Forest are struggling with all their new signings - which are most likely to stay up? (46:36)Hugh claims Aston Villa vs Southampton was the worst game he’s ever seen - but what about everyone else? (57:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former England cricketer and national selector Ed Smith joins us to discuss his new book 'Making Decisions: Putting the Human Back in the Machine'.Tom Clarke sits down with Ed to discuss the analysis of data in sport and why it doesn't mean we'll simply rely on algorithms to pick squads and tactics in the future. We also hear his thoughts on the different mentalities of football managers and his love for Arsenal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Ian Hawkey and Ed Smith.Erling Haaland scored (again) as Manchester City came from behind to beat his former side Borussia Dortmund. How can he be stopped? (00:00)Graham Potter took charge of Chelsea for the first time - what did we learn from their draw in the Champions League? (13:22)Liverpool left it late to beat Ajax - why aren’t they the team of previous years this season? (32:55)Tottenham let it slip late on in their match against Sporting. How does Antonio Conte improve their mentality? (45:49)Ian Hawkey gives us his opinions on the other results in the Champions League - including mixed fortunes for Real and Barcelona (51:52)News of a special episode of The Game out on Friday (60:18)Gregor and Tom discuss how Rangers and Celtic got on in the Champions League and we touch upon the EFL results from the week (62:50)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Molly Hudson, Tom Roddy and Tony Cascarino.***This episode was recorded on the morning of Graham Potter’s appointment as new Chelsea manager***Thomas Tuchel has been fired - did he see it coming? (00:00)Tom Roddy broke the story in The Times and he tells us his understanding of what happened behind the scenes? (9:50)At the time of recording, Graham Potter was heavily rumoured to be taking over at Chelsea. How suitable will he be at Stamford Bridge? (19:55)Liverpool had a night to forget in the Champions League on Wednesday. What’s going wrong for Jurgen Klopp’s side at the moment? (35:08)Celtic and Rangers both had disappointing evenings in Europe - our resident Scotsman and former Celtic striker give their thoughts (46:41)The WSL season gets underway this weekend and Molly Hudson brings us up to date with some last minute transfers (51:43)Spurs take on Manchester City in the Premier League this weekend - can Antonio Conte get one over Pep Guardiola? (60:10)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson.Manchester United vs Arsenal was as eventful as ever. Did Anthony live up to expectation? (00:00)This game featured one of many VAR talking points over the weekend, but was the decision to rule out Arsenal’s goal actually correct? (13:46)Brighton have quietly continued their excellent run - should Graham Potter be offered the England job and would he actually accept? What next for Brendan Rodgers at Leicester? (25:08)Ivan Toney has impressed for Brentford, scoring a hat trick this past weekend. Is it the right time for an England call-up? (37:40)Along with Toney, we pick our suggestions for curveballs call-ups to Gareth Southgate’s next squad (44:06)A discussion on VAR turns into a debate, and then a full blown argument! (46:50)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Molly Hudson.We take a look back at the transfer window for a selection of Premier League clubs - starting with Chelsea and Manchester United (00:00)Nottingham Forest and Arsenal (11:28)Bournemouth, Everton and Southampton (19:19)Manchester City and Leicester City (27:08)Fulham and Liverpool (38:39)Hugh has also picked a selection of other clubs who deserve a mention for some solid business ahead of the window shutting (45:08)Molly Hudson joins us from Austria to discuss the Lionesses first competitive games since their Euros success (48:58)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Roddy and Alyson Rudd.Liverpool hit Bournemouth for nine goals at the weekend - but why do teams struggle to make double figures? (00:00)Scott Parker made it well known he wants more players at Bournemouth, but will his frustration be resolved? (13:25)Manchester City and Erling Haaland look impressive in front of goal - but are they looking shaky at the back? (22:50)Steven Gerrard is struggling at Aston Villa after yet another loss. Will he be given time to turn things around? (32:42)Forest put up a notable fight against Tottenham, but Richarlison got a lot of attention for his showboating - was it rudeness or flair? (45:46)Hugh doesn’t like VAR much, as you’ll hear with his weekly rant (51:12)Who was our Player of the Month? Listen and vote now on The Times website (54:06)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft - with Molly Hudson and Henry Winter.Manchester United surprised a few with their 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Monday. What does that win over Liverpool mean for their progression after a rocky start under ten Hag? (00:00)Liverpool are having a nightmare start to the season - what does Jurgen Klopp need to do and could another signing be necessary before the window shuts? (18:31)Rangers are in the Champions League group stages for the first time in 13 years - we discuss their progression and what this means for the club going forward (30:00)Molly Hudson joins us to discuss the two big retirements from the successful Lionesses squad this week (40:01)The Times’ Chief Football Reporter Henry Winter has been to Kyiv for the symbolic start of the Ukrainian Premier League. He tells us about his experience in the capital (49:03)We end with our Games of the Weekend - which fixtures are catching our eye across the Premier League and EFL? (53:44)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Newcastle gave Manchester City a scare on Sunday - what does this result tell us about their progression since the takeover? (00:00)Hugh is not impressed with VAR again and one incident in that game was largely to blame (16:53)Leeds blew Chelsea away at Elland Road. How desperately do Chelsea need a number 9 and are modern goalkeepers taught to play with their feet too much? (27:16)Brighton came away from the London Stadium with three points as West Ham’s goalless start to the season continues - is it time to panic for David Moyes? (41:00)Arsenal end the weekend on top, but how seriously should we take them this season? (54:47)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke, Matt Dickinson and Martin Hardy.Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to explore the possibilities of buying Manchester United. Matt Dickinson broke the story in The Times and joins us to explain how likely this deal is (00:00)What numbers are involved in any potential deal for Manchester United? Football finance expert Kieran Maguire breaks down the figures The Glazers are likely to be keen to do business at (10:21)The Times’ Martin Hardy joins us to discuss how things are going at Newcastle United ahead of their game against Manchester City on Sunday (17:54)Leeds United have had a positive start to the season, but after losing important players - how will they get on in their ‘tricky’ third season? (35:40)Manchester United take on Liverpool on Monday as the bottom side in the Premier League. Will Erik ten Hag change his footballing philosophy or stick to the plan? (48:39)Who is the unluckiest manager? Gregor spoke to Graham Alexander, who could be a pretty good candidate (62:44)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Spurs showed a different side to their game on Sunday in a fiery encounter against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. We unpack the most eventful game of the season so far (00:00)Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte got into a couple of heated debates on the touchline - is this kind of behaviour acceptable and is it beneath them? (16:45)Brentford thrashed a sorry Manchester United - but was it a shock? (27:20)The Times’ Senior Sports Writer Matt Dickinson joins us to discuss his new book about Sir Alex Ferguson’s resignation on the eve of the 1998-99 season and what transpired (44:32)Nottingham Forest won their first home game in the Premier League for 23 years - but are they actually buying too many players? (50:08)We end with a discussion on our favourite ever assists (57:42)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke, Jonathan Northcroft and Tom Roddy.Antonio Conte has been praised for his work at Spurs so far - but have they actually stepped up yet? Is Sunday’s game against Chelsea their opportunity to show everyone what they can do? (00:00)Arsenal have also made improvements with Gabriel Jesus the standout addition at the Emirates. What can they expect to achieve this season? Leicester have brought no players in and have seen Kaspar Schmeichel leave in this window - are they destined for a disappointing season? (22:06)It’s Steven Gerrard against Frank Lampard at the weekend as Aston Villa host Everton. Which of the former England teammates will come out on top? (35:30)Jonathan spent some time with Brighton boss, Graham Potter. You can read the full conversation in The Times - but does Jonny think he’s a future England manager? (42:55)Every club has made a desperate transfer deadline day signing or two - we recall our favourites (51:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Erling Haaland has arrived and already has two goals to his name. Are Manchester City going to be more dominant than ever or will Liverpool find their feet after their opening performance? (00:00)Aleksandar Mitrović caused Liverpool problems - but can the Fulham striker have a better season in the Premier League this time around? (15:24)Brighton won at Old Trafford for the first time in the league - what’s the secret to Graham Potter’s success? Manchester United are back with a new manager - but has anything really changed? (23:00)Steven Gerrard caused a bit of a stir with his comments about Tyrone Mings following their loss against Bournemouth. Was he right to replace his captain? (42:31)Tottenham were impressive against Southampton - are they actually in the conversation for a title challenge? (50:02)Ismaïla Sarr scored from his own half for Watford on Monday night, so we end with our favourite goals from the ‘wrong’ half of the pitch (55:28)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Tom Clarke.We’re back for the new season with an extended episode of The Game Podcast from The Times.We start by looking at the big striker signings - which club has got the best deal for their new frontman and which one will hit the ground running? (00:00)Chelsea have lost a number of key players and they’ve not yet replaced all of them. Despite signing Raheem Sterling, is their squad weaker than last season? (23:11)It’ll be a big season for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag. Do they have any chance of breaking back in to the top four? (33:53)Which team is the team to watch out for this season? Who’ll surprise us in 2022/23? (42:30)Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest are back in the top flight, some have been away longer than others. What does the season have in store for the newly-promoted clubs and which is the best bet to stay up? (55:32)We’re a week in to the EFL season and already Burnley have impressed a lot of people. Which sides have stood out to us so far? (68:27)We end with our predictions for the upcoming season. Which will come true? You’ll have to check back at the end of May! (75:42)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson, Owen Slot and Casey Stoney.The Lionesses have done it - football is home and an emotional former England captain Casey Stoney joins us for the final time to look back at the game and look ahead to what this result will do for the women’s game in the UK and beyond (00:00)The Times Chief Sports Reporter Owen Slot joins us having been at the game at Wembley last night (21:42)Molly Hudson has been in Trafalgar Square soaking up the atmosphere as the Lionesses lifted the trophy again for the fans (28:43)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson and Casey Stoney.Casey Stoney joins us from the US to give her thoughts on the Lionesses semi-final win and what they’ll need to do on Sunday (00:00)What worked for England against Sweden and do they need to make any changes to combat Germany at Wembley? (11:32)Do England need to lift the trophy to maximise the legacy of the competition - or have they already done enough to inspire a generation? (35:30)How do our journalists think the game will play out? Are England the favourites? (44:20)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson and Gregor Robertson.England take on Sweden for a place in the final of Euro 2022 on Tuesday night - how will they be feeling and what will the mood be in the camp? (00:00)Should Sarina Wiegman stick with the same side or should the England manager make changes to combat the Swedes? (06:40)What chance do Sweden have of sending the hosts home? (22:56)Germany take on France in the other semi-final - which side is most likely to book their place in the final at Wembley? (28:26)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson and Casey Stoney.England are through to the semi finals of Euro 2022 after an extra time winner from Georgia Stanway. Casey gives us her review of the nerve-wracking quarter final with Spain (00:00)Do we have any sympathy for Spain after their loss? Did their injury problems ultimately end their chances of success? (21:12)There are two more quarter finals - who will England want to face the most? (32:32)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson and Casey Stoney.England face Spain in the first Quarter Final of the tournament on Wednesday. Some had Spain down as the team to beat, but are England now the clear favourites? (00:00)We’ve seen a number of ACL injuries in the women’s game recently. Why is this happening more frequently than in the men’s game? (26:00)Germany take on Austria in Thursday’s quarter final. Can Austria beat the free-scoring Germans or will Alexandra Popp’s side continue their impressive run? (36:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson and Casey Stoney.England shocked many with an 8-0 thrashing of Norway on Monday night. Was it a case of England playing well and Norway having an off day? (00:00)Beth Mead scored a hat-trick (11:53) and there were also goals for Ellen White (14:50). Casey gives us her opinion on them both. Northern Ireland are out after a 2-0 loss to Austria. Should they be disappointed and what does the future look like for the team? (26:25)Casey and the team look ahead to the other games coming up, ahead of England vs Northern Ireland on Friday (33:05)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson and Casey Stoney.England got their Euros campaign started with a 1-0 win over Austria - but after the convincing nature of the warm up matches, should fans be a little disappointed? (00:00)Northern Ireland play their first match tonight against Norway and we take a look at the fixtures over the weekend (17:53)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson and Casey Stoney.Former England captain Casey Stoney joins us for Euro 2022, but what’s it like to be a player preparing for a major tournament? (00:00)Ahead of the start of the tournament, how has Sarina Wiegman been received so far? Is she under pressure to win back-to-back championships? (13:38)England go into this tournament with a lot of hope, but which players are most likely to impress and which players should make the starting line up? (19:35)Northern Ireland are in England’s group and Gregor has been looking at their squad in detail. What will they be aiming for this summer? (35:35)With England’s eyes firmly on the prize, which other teams will pose them problems and who are the favourites? (40:48)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson and Tom Roddy.England’s disastrous Nations League games ended with the most disappointing result of the break - but does Gareth Southgate really deserve the abuse he’s getting? (00:00)Premier League clubs are already doing business with some big strikers on the move - but who got the better deal? Also, what’s going on with Romelu Lukaku? (22:00)We take a look back some of our good, bad and hilarious predictions from earlier in the season. Gregor’s team to watch is a particular favourite (38:00)Who doesn’t like to end the season with a quiz? Hugh and Tom both came prepared! (45:15)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegamei Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd, Gary Jacob and Michael Grant.The Nations League games continue and England once again failed to impress against Italy. Are the squad tired and is the manager in need of a rest too? (00:00)Gareth Southgate changed things around for the game against the European Champions - which players showed they deserve more of a chance in the starting line up? (09:45)Scotland have had a disastrous start to their Nations League campaign. Michael Grant joins us to discuss their current slump after watching them lose 3-0 in Dublin (23:16)Wales showed more promise, holding Belgium to a 1-1 draw in Cardiff. Gareth Bale edges closer to becoming a free agent, but is there any indication of where he’ll end up? (32:52)Everton have signed a record shirt sponsorship deal with a betting company - but with these kinds of sponsorships looking like they’ll be banned, was that a foolish decision on several levels? (43:42)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Matt Lawton.England did a lot better against Germany than they did previously in Hungary - but what questions have been left to be resolved? Will Jack Grealish ever be in the first XI or should he embrace being a super sub? (00:00)Scotland bounced back from their World Cup disappointment against Armenia. What’s next for Steve Clarke’s side and has a new phase begun for the national team? (23:10)Matt Lawton joins us fresh from Munich, where he’s been looking into policing on the continent and how it differs from our own in the UK (32:20)We take a look at the latest transfer rumours with Liverpool’s attack potentially getting an overhaul and what Arsenal need to get done before the start of the season (51:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino.Wales are going to the World Cup after they went one better than Scotland by beating Ukraine. How much credit do their stars deserve and where does the job Rob Page has done rank in terms of managerial achievements? (00:00)With ageing stars, how will Wales get on in Qatar and how likely are we to see both them and England progress to the knock-out stages? (18:53)England lost in Hungary - but what are the bigger things to come from a game that saw James Justin and Jarod Bowen make their debuts? (22:17)We bring you our long-awaited End of Season Awards. Which players, managers and teams have done well (or not so well) this season? (36:17)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Michael Grant, Gary Jacob and Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero.Scotland came up short against Ukraine, who go on to face Wales on Sunday for a place in the World Cup. Michael Grant joins us to discuss what went wrong and where Steve Clarke’s side go from here (00:00Wales will have had a good look at Ukraine ahead of that game. Gary Jacob weights up what could be Gareth Bale’s last match for his country, should they lose and miss out on the finals (18:21)Paul Pogba is leaving Manchester United. Not a huge surprise, but was his time at the club a success or was he not given what he needed to thrive? (28:32)Gareth Bale is also on the move with his deal at Real Madrid ending next month. Is the Welshman the best British export ever? Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero joins us to weight it up (36:55)..and with Tom Clarke on holiday on Monday when we’ll hold our end of year awards, we let him pick some of his winners a few days early (45:49)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Tom Roddy and Charlotte Duncker.Liverpool lost out on the treble, days after the quadruple slipped through their hands. Did they deserve to lose the Champions League final to Real Madrid? (00:00)Sadio Mane looks likely to leave Liverpool - can they continue in the same way going forward? (25:20)There were huge issues getting into the stadium with reports and video of police tear-gassing supporters, despite them appearing to have legitimate tickets. Alyson was there and tell us her story of the night (29:17)Nottingham Forest will play in the Premier League next season. Charlotte Duncker was watching at Wembley Stadium as Steve Cooper finally got promotion through the playoffs (50:18)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Paul Hirst, Charlotte Duncker and Ian Hawkey.There’s good news for Liverpool ahead of the Champions League final with Mo Salah saying he’s staying for at least another season (00:00)Will they get revenge on Real Madrid after what happened in 2018 and will Gareth Bale have an unlikely role to play in his final game for Madrid? (14:20)Alyson is lucky enough to be going to the final as a fan. She tells us what it means to be able to watch Liverpool in Europe after growing up listening under the covers (18:49)Roma have won their first European trophy after victory in the Europa Conference League Final. How important is this trophy for Jose Mourinho? (27:14)Kylian Mbappe’s new deal blows many out of the water - but it’s not the money that’s the most concerning detail (36:07) Paul Hirst met new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag on Monday. What did he make of the man tasked with turning things around for the Red Devils? (44:10)Nottingham Forest could return to the Premier League for the first time in over two decades on Sunday. Charlotte Duncker joins us to preview the Championship playoff final (52:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Tom Roddy, Paul Hirst and Tony Cascarino.Manchester City are champions, but didn’t make it easy for themselves on the final day. Should Pep Guardiola be applauded for his game-changing substitutions or criticised for his starting line up? (00:00)With the title race going right down to the wire - are we watching two of the greatest teams the Premier League has ever seen/ (20:38)Both Chelsea and Manchester United are already looking ahead to the summer and beyond with different outlooks on the horizon. Will they be challengers next season? (27:04)Leeds managed to pull a win out of nowhere while Burnley fell apart. Is Jesse Marsch the right person to take Leeds forward and are Burnley doomed? (33:09)Spurs took the final Champions League spot despite Arsenal being favourites as recently as March. What does this mean for the future of Antonio Conte and Harry Kane? (53:26)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke.Pitch invasions have been seen in games every night this week. One man has been jailed, Patrick Vieira kicked a supporter after he was goaded. How can this be stopped as quickly as possible? (00:00)Everton managed to escape the drop with a 3-2 win at home to Crystal Palace. How much was down to Frank Lampard and how much was thanks to the fans? (27:02)Either Burnley or Leeds will exit the top flight this season. Burnley hold the upper hand with a much better goal difference, but can Leeds surprise everyone and find some form when it matters? (37:16)We know all of the teams involved in the EFL playoffs. Do Nottingham Forest have what it takes to make it back to the Premier League after so long away? Will friend of the show, David Stockade be celebrating with Wycombe or will Newcastle’s new wealth spur Sunderland on to close the gulf between them both? (45:40)The final day of the Premier League season is almost upon us - we give our predictions on what might happen at the top and the bottom (56:22)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis joins Hugh Woozencroft and Matt Lawton for a special podcast from The Times.While talking some time away from the game following his departure from Sheffield Wednesday in 2020, he's been tracking the progress of his grandson; a talented eight-year-old enjoying the benefits of a category one academy at a Premier League club; a product of the Elite Player Performance Programme (EPPP) that was launched 10 years ago to produce more home grown players for the country’s top clubs. It is, however, a system that Pulis believes is in need of a complete overhaul. Pulis also gives us his thoughts on the best young managers in the UK and whether negative comments about his style of management ever get to him.Read the full article here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tony-pulis-most-academy-kids-are-never-going-to-play-football-not-enough-is-done-for-them-rjz2n3z6t Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Molly Hudson and Tony Cascarino.Lots to discuss after a goalless FA Cup Final that was decided on penalties. Who stood out for each team and who wasn’t up to it? (00:00)Chelsea have now lost two cup finals to Liverpool this season - what does the future hold for Romalu Lukaku and why is Andreas Christensen not available? (19:44)Molly Hudson joins us to discuss some Chelsea success after their women’s side did what the men couldn’t and lifted the trophy a day later (30:19)The Premier League title race took another turn as Manchester City could only manage a 2-2 draw with West Ham. Did City pick the wrong penalty-taker? (37:44)Lots more to discuss in the Premier League including questionable handballs, red cards and a lifeline for Leeds? (55:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft.Kevin De Bruyne made it very clear he knows where the back of the net is in Manchester City’s 5-1 win over Wolves. Will he continue to flourish with the new arrival this summer? (00:00)..but how will Erling Haaland fit into Pep Guardiola’s side? (13:54)Leeds are in real trouble and following last night’s result, they’ll have to play the rest of the season without Dan James. Are they doomed? (21:!5)Celtic have won their 10th Premiership title in 11 years. The gamble on Ange Postecoglou has paid off, so what next for both the club and the manager? (31:16)Ahead of previewing the FA Cup final this weekend, we’re joined by Richard Whitehead to discuss his book: ‘The Cup: A Pictorial Celebration of the World's Greatest Football Tournament’ (41:25)Chelsea have an opportunity to get their own back on Liverpool in the FA Cup final this weekend, but what will they need to do differently if they’re not to suffer a repeat of the Carabao Cup final? (48:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of this special podcast from The Game, we're joined by Wycombe Wanderers goalkeeper - David Stockdale. Now he's through to the League One playoff final with Wycombe Wanderers, David talks about the excitement of playing at the national stadium and shares his thoughts on interacting with fans, calling out abuse from the stands and who his favourite teammates have been throughout the years.Wycombe play Sunderland in the League One playoff final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 21st May 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Molly Hudson and Tom Roddy.Manchester City have the advantage in the Premier League title race after Liverpool dropped points against Spurs. Will they really drop any points themselves? (00:00)Hugh is banned from mentioning M*nchester Un*ted, but somehow we end up discussing them after probably their most disappointing loss of the season at Brighton (15:23)Leeds dropped into the relegation zone after a self-destructive performance against Arsenal, while Everton got three valuable points away at Leicester. Has Frank Lampard finally got them playing to their potential? (20:50)Leicester have been off the boil completely in the second half of the season. Are the players to blame or should Brendan Rodgers be getting more out of his squad? (28:33)Brighton beat the team that Hugh can’t mention - should they be worried their manager Graham Potter could be tempted to move elsewhere? (35:38)Molly Hudson joins us to talk about an exciting final day of the WSL season that saw Chelsea win their third title in a row. What’s next for some of the other teams in the league? (43:48)The Championship and League Two finished over the weekend and there’s one result that really stands out to everyone (56:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Ian Hawkey, Martyn Ziegler and Owen Slot.Manchester City. What on earth happened last night!? (00:00)Were Pep Guardiola’s substitutions to blame? Do you take Kevin De Bruyne off in that situation? (15:23)Liverpool are through to the final, but they survived a scare against Villarreal. Did Liverpool’s squad depth rescue them? (28:40)Looking ahead to the final - what chance do Liverpool have against Real Madrid in Paris? (38:09)The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Martyn Ziegler joins us with an update on the sale of Chelsea and how the latest developments could affect which bid ends up being successful (48:15)The League One playoffs get started this evening. Could it be Sunderland’s moment to return to the Championship? (55:35)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.